UNICEF Learning Collaborative
is pleased to announce the launch of
Step Up the Pace: Towards an AIDS-free generation in West and Central Africa

A report by UNICEF and UNAIDS

UNICEF and UNAIDS's latest report - Step Up the Pace: Towards an AIDS-free generation in West and Central Africa<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/Step%20Up%20The%20Pace_0.pdf> - discusses the HIV epidemic in the West and Central African (WCAR) region, which has received inadequate attention compared to other regions. For example, WCAR has the lowest paediatric antiretroviral treatment coverage in the world, with only 21% of the 540,000 children living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2016 – compared to 43% globally.

The report takes stock of the progress and shortfalls in the HIV response in WCAR, offers an analysis of the challenges that continue to slow progress, and outlines several strategic directions to achieve the targets defined in the ‘Three Frees’ framework for ending AIDS among children, adolescents and young women by 2020.
Key facts from the report:

* Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV coverage has increased 2.5-fold between 2010 and 2016 (from 21 per cent to 49 per cent), with some countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso and Cabo Verde now providing these services to more than 80 per cent of the pregnant women living with HIV.
* West and Central Africa has the lowest paediatric antiretroviral treatment coverage in the world, with only 21 per cent of the 540,000 children (0-14) living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2016 – compared to 43 per cent globally.
* Today, West and Central Africa accounts for 37 per cent of the world’s AIDS-related deaths among children: about 43,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred among children in West and Central Africa in 2016, a decrease of 31 per cent compared to 2010.
* There were 62,000 adolescents (15-19) newly infected with HIV in 2016, unchanged compared to 2010.
* Adolescent girls and young women continue to be the most affected, with women making up nearly three out of five of all adolescents aged 10-19 years living with HIV across West and Central Africa.

The press release for Step Up the Pace is available in English<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/poc-toolkit/UNICEF%20WCAR%20Report%20Press%20Release-English.pdf> and French<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/poc-toolkit/UNICEF%20WCAR%20Report%20Press%20Release%20French.pdf>.

“We need to make better use of innovations to increase early diagnosis and improve access to HIV treatment and care for children. For example, the point-of -care technology diagnostic brings testing closer to where children attend health services and self-testing can be a good option for adolescents who may be more comfortable with it.”

“Leaders of the region have endorsed a Catch-Up plan aiming to triple the number of people on treatment in the region – including children – by the end of 2018; the key issue now is to accelerate implementation.”

- Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS

Save the date:
the 10th Annual International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics

Virology Education has opened registration for their 10th Annual International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics<http://www.virology-education.com/event/upcoming/10th-workshop-hiv-pediatrics/>, which will be scheduled on 20 and 21 July 2018, prior to the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference in 2018 in Amsterdam.
The workshop program will include oral abstract and poster presentations, lectures from invited speakers, as well as debates and panel discussions. A diverse community of participants are expected to attend, including investigators from the north and south, and junior and senior investigators across a broad range of disciplines, who will gather in an interactive setting. This workshop hopes to encourage young investigators to engage in the field of pediatric/perinatal HIV research and stimulate new research activities and collaboration.

UNICEF Learning Collaborative
is pleased to announce the launch of
Step Up the Pace: Towards an AIDS-free generation in West and Central Africa

A report by UNICEF and UNAIDS

UNICEF and UNAIDS's latest report - Step Up the Pace: Towards an AIDS-free generation in West and Central Africa<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/Step%20Up%20The%20Pace_0.pdf> - discusses the HIV epidemic in the West and Central African (WCAR) region, which has received inadequate attention compared to other regions. For example, WCAR has the lowest paediatric antiretroviral treatment coverage in the world, with only 21% of the 540,000 children living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2016 – compared to 43% globally.

The report takes stock of the progress and shortfalls in the HIV response in WCAR, offers an analysis of the challenges that continue to slow progress, and outlines several strategic directions to achieve the targets defined in the ‘Three Frees’ framework for ending AIDS among children, adolescents and young women by 2020.
Key facts from the report:

* Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV coverage has increased 2.5-fold between 2010 and 2016 (from 21 per cent to 49 per cent), with some countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso and Cabo Verde now providing these services to more than 80 per cent of the pregnant women living with HIV.
* West and Central Africa has the lowest paediatric antiretroviral treatment coverage in the world, with only 21 per cent of the 540,000 children (0-14) living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2016 – compared to 43 per cent globally.
* Today, West and Central Africa accounts for 37 per cent of the world’s AIDS-related deaths among children: about 43,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred among children in West and Central Africa in 2016, a decrease of 31 per cent compared to 2010.
* There were 62,000 adolescents (15-19) newly infected with HIV in 2016, unchanged compared to 2010.
* Adolescent girls and young women continue to be the most affected, with women making up nearly three out of five of all adolescents aged 10-19 years living with HIV across West and Central Africa.

The press release for Step Up the Pace is available in English<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/poc-toolkit/UNICEF%20WCAR%20Report%20Press%20Release-English.pdf> and French<http://childrenandaids.org/sites/default/files/poc-toolkit/UNICEF%20WCAR%20Report%20Press%20Release%20French.pdf>.

“Leaders of the region have endorsed a Catch-Up plan aiming to triple the number of people on treatment in the region – including children – by the end of 2018; the key issue now is to accelerate implementation.”

On World AIDS Day 2017, many of UNICEF's partners announced or released important updates, some of which are summarized in the following section.

PEPFAR released their latest global results<https://www.pepfar.gov/funding/results/> that reflect the new achievements of their accelerated HIV prevention and treatment program and DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) public-private partnership. As of September 30, 2017, PEPFAR has:

* Supported 15.2 million voluntary medical male circumcisions (VMMC) to prevent infections in men and boys;
* Achieved a 25% decline in new HIV diagnoses among adolescent girls and young women of the highest HIV-burden districts (of which 14 districts experienced a decline > 40%); and
* Prevented 2.2 million babies from being born with HIV.

A NIH-supported study<https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/combination-hiv-prevention-reduces-new-infections-42-percent-ugandan-district> published in the New England Journal of Medicine<http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1702150#t=article> reveals that combination HIV prevention (ART use and VMMC) has reduced new infections by 42% in the Rakai District of Uganda since 2009, demonstrating that the scale-up of combination HIV prevention can contribute to decreases in HIV incidence. Important outcomes from the study are highlighted below:

* The proportion of male participants who were voluntarily circumcised increased from 15% in 1999 to 59% in 2016;
* HIV incidence dropped the most (57%) among circumcised men; and
* The decline in HIV incidence in women was less significant than that in men (32%), a gender imbalance the study suggests could be addressed by influencing more men living with HIV to take ART.

As the study continues, PrEP is anticipated to be added to the combination HIV prevention package.

UNAIDS released a report on the Right to Health<http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2017/20171120_right_to_health>, and accompanying press release<http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2017/november/20171121_righttohealth_report> shining a spotlight on the HIV response and key populations. One of these key populations are orphans, who are especially vulnerable to stigma and discrimination. The report emphasizes the need for more specialized, rights-based interventions that are tailored to their age and circumstances, such as ensuring that they have access to child protection services, quality family-based care, and facility-based clinical services.

The report also sheds light on the blind spots in addressing the epidemic, including engaging men in care and treatment and preventing HIV among young women and girls who are disproportionately affected and ending stigma and discrimination.

This year, the WHO has validated the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St. Christopher & Nevis. The Western Pacific and Pan-American regions have also committed to the triple elimination of MTCT of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Read more about the validation process here<http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/congenital-syphilis/WHO-validation-EMTCT/en/>.

UNICEF Learning Collaborative
is pleased to announce
the launch of the
2017 UNICEF Statistical Update
on Children and AIDS

This year for World AIDS Day UNICEF launches the 2017 UNICEF Statistical Update on Children and AIDS. Although we are closer then ever to ending the HIV epidemic, we cannot be complacent. HIV continues to threaten the lives of too many children and adolescents.

The Statistical Update<http://childrenandaids.org/statistical-update-page> includes a summary of the data, a powerpoint presentation, and an excel file of global data and charts. Additional data is available at data.unicef.org<https://data.unicef.org/topic/hivaids/global-regional-trends/>.
The full 2017 Statistical Update package is below:

"It is unacceptable that we continue to see so many children dying from AIDS and so little progress made to protect adolescents from new HIV infections. The AIDS epidemic is not over; it remains a threat to the lives of children and young people and more can and should be done to prevent it."

UNICEF Learning Collaborative
WHO and UNICEF invite you
to participate in the
2016 HIV and Infant Feeding Guidelines Survey

In 2016, WHO and UNICEF updated the Guidelines on HIV and Infant Feeding<http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/hiv-infant-feeding-2016/en/>. To address common questions about the guidelines, WHO and UNICEF are developing a Q&A document to clarify the recommendations after one year of implementation.

The objective of this survey is to identify the most frequently asked questions and implementation challenges at the country level in regard to the guidelines. Your invaluable input will inform the development of a Q&A brief to aid in the understanding and implementation of the guidelines.

the launch of the Clinic-Community Collaboration (C3) Toolkit:
Working together to improve PMTCT and paediatric HIV treatment, care and support

a toolkit developed by
Pediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA) and
the Positive Action for Children Fund (PACF)

PATA and PACF have worked across 9 countries and facilitated 36 clinic-community collaborations through their partnership on the three-year C3 programme which aims to strengthen partnerships between Clinics and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) to improve paediatric case finding and HIV treatment.

Together, PATA and PACF have identified how clinical-CBO collaborations at the local level can transform health responses. These experiences and processes are described in the Clinic-Community Collaboration Toolkit<http://teampata.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/C3-Tookit_WEB.compressed.pdf> and accompanying Be Connected e-learning course<https://pata.proversity.org/>.

These new tools are intended to empower health providers as well as encouraging community-based staff and local coordinators to initiate, expand and improve upon joint activities and action plans, in an effort to strengthen their work on paediatric and adolescent HIV.

For more information on the PATA and PACF, please visit their websites: PATA<http://teampata.org/>, PACF<https://www.viivhealthcare.com/community-partnerships/positive-action-for-children-fund/about.aspx>.

On November 9, WHO and IAS/CIPHER led a webinar to share presentations on Global Research Agendas for Paediatric and Adolescent HIV. These presentations included discussions on youth engagement, research prioritisation and the role of implementation science. More than 60 participants attended the webinar.

Webinar Recording <http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/453>

Presentations included:

* Research prioritization process and outcomes<http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/453>, Marissa Vicari, IAS.
* Meaningful engagement of youth: from research prioritization to clinical trials, implementation science and policy development<http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/453>, Carlo Oliveras, IAS.
* The role of implementation science in paediatric and adolescent HIV - panel discussion<http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/453>, Anjuli Wagner, University of Washington and Shaffiq Essajee, UNICEF.
For more information on the IAS and the WHO, please visit their websites: IAS<https://www.iasociety.org/>, WHO<http://www.who.int/en/>

For follow up questions or information, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org

On November 9, WHO and IAS/CIPHER will lead a webinar to share presentations on Global Research Agendas for Paediatric and Adolescent HIV. These presentations will include discussions on youth engagement, research prioritisation and the role of implementation science.

On November 9, WHO and IAS/CIPHER will lead a webinar to share presentations on Global Research Agendas for Paediatric and Adolescent HIV. These presentations will include discussions on youth engagement, research prioritisation and the role of implementation science.

UNICEF
and
WHO, IAS (CIPHER)
join forces to bring to you a webinar on:
Global Research Agendas for Paediatric and Adolescent HIV
9 November 2017

On November 9, UNICEF, WHO, IAS (CIPHER) will lead a webinar to share presentations on Global Research Agendas for Paediatric and Adolescent HIV. These presentations will include discussions on youth engagement, research prioritisation and the role of implementation science.

On October 23rd, 24th and 25th 2017, UNICEF and Pediatric Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA) led a webinar series to share select presentations from the PATA Continental Summit in Johannesburg. These presentations included plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.

You can access the recorded webinars on our website:
Finding Children with HIV (Day 1): http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/438
Treating Children with HIV (Day 2): http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/439
Caring for Children with HIV (Day 3): http://www.childrenandaids.org/node/440

For more information on the PATA Continental Summit, please visit the PATA website.<https://teampata.org/>

On October 23rd, 24th and 25th 2017, UNICEF and PATA will lead a webinar series to share select presentations from the PATA Regional Summit in Johannesburg. These presentations will include plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.
October 24th - TREATMENT

If you missed yesterday's webinar on case finding and testing children for HIV, we will share the presentations and recordings after the series on October 25th.

For more information on the PATA Regional Summit, please visit the PATA website.<https://teampata.org/>
For questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org<mailto:jerodrigues@unicef.org>

On October 23rd, 24th and 25th 2017, UNICEF and PATA will lead a webinar series to share select presentations from the PATA Regional Summit in Johannesburg. These presentations will include plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.

The webinar will be moderated by Elvin Geng, University of California, San Francisco, Kate Harrison, AVERT and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF.

Presentations will include, among others:

October 23rd

* PATA: A decade of linking and learning, Luann Hatane, PATA
October 24th

* Improving retention in early childhood: The power of family and community, Noreen Huni, REPSSI
The links to the webinar are below:
October 23rd <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/K55ZZCSZ> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 24th <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/BRSDW8N9> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 25th<https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/YZ12R7JN> 8.30-9.30am EST and 2.30-3.30pm JHB

Join us next week to hear from the frontline workers and health care providers who work tirelessly to deliver comprehensive care to children and adolescents.

For more information on the PATA Regional Summit, please visit the PATA website.<https://teampata.org/>
For questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org<mailto:jerodrigues@unicef.org>

On October 23rd, 24th and 25th 2017, UNICEF and PATA will lead a webinar series to share select presentations from the PATA Regional Summit in Johannesburg. These presentations will include plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.

The webinar will be moderated by Elvin Geng, University of California, San Francisco, Kate Harrison, AVERT and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF.

Presentations will include, among others:

October 23rd

* PATA: A decade of linking and learning, Luann Hatane, PATA
October 24th

* Improving retention in early childhood: The power of family and community, Noreen Huni, REPSSI
The links to the webinar are below:
October 23rd <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/K55ZZCSZ> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 24th <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/BRSDW8N9> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 25th<https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/YZ12R7JN> 8.30-9.30am EST and 2.30-3.30pm JHB

Join us next week to hear from the frontline workers and health care providers who work tirelessly to deliver comprehensive care to children and adolescents.

For more information on the PATA Regional Summit, please visit the PATA website.<https://teampata.org/>
For questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org

On October 23rd, 24th and 25th 2017, UNICEF and PATA will lead a webinar series to share select presentations from the PATA Regional Summit in Johannesburg. These presentations will include plenary presentations and country-led solutions to identifying, treating and caring for children and adolescents living with HIV and affected by HIV.

The links to the webinar are below:
October 23rd <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/K55ZZCSZ> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 24th <https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/BRSDW8N9> 9-10am EST and 3-4pm JHB
October 25th<https://meet.unicef.org/jerodrigues/YZ12R7JN> 8.30-9.30am EST and 2.30-3.30pm JHB

Join us next week to hear from the frontline workers and health care providers who work tirelessly to deliver comprehensive care to children and adolescents. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the PATA Regional Summit.

For more information on the PATA Regional Summit, please visit the PATA website.<https://teampata.org/>
For questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org<mailto:jerodrigues@unicef.org>

No Child when born chooses to die before the age of 5 or live in poverty.
Please help Lesedi Hospice to care for these children.
HIV is taking its toll. Children are suffering due to parents being chronically ill and not being able to work because of HIV AIDS children are physically emotionally and socially neglected
98% of the community is unemployed in this deep rural village in the Free State.

Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB, HIV and
maternal health programmes

October 5th, 2017

On Thursday, October 5th, 2017 UNICEF and CDC in collaboration with the Child Survival Working Group organised a webinar: Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB/HIV and maternal health programmes.

The webinar was moderated by Anne Detjen, UNICEF, Surbhi Modi, CDC and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF. A total of 86 participants from more than 15 countries (including Greenland) attended the webinar.

Webinar Recording<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>

Presentations:

* TB in women, infants, children and adolescents - key data, gaps and opportunities<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Steve Graham, University of Melbourne and The International Union Against TB and Lung Disease
* Addressing TB along the lifecycle - lessons from Uganda<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Moorine Sekadde, National TB Programme, Uganda
* Kenya's experience providing Isoniazid Preventive Therapy in PMTCT settings <http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Immaculate Kathure, National TB Programme, Kenya
Additional Resources:
The 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health will be held this week from 11-14 October in Guadalajara, Mexico. For more information, please visit the website<https://www.theunion.org/>.

More Information:
For technical questions, please contact Anne Detjen at adetjen@unicef.org or Surbhi Modi at bkt1@cdc.gov

If you are interested in collaborating with us on a webinar, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org.

Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB, HIV and
maternal health programmes

On Thursday, October 5th, 2017 UNICEF and CDC in collaboration with the Child Survival Working Group organised a webinar: Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB/HIV and maternal health programmes.

The webinar was moderated by Anne Detjen, UNICEF, Surbhi Modi, CDC and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF. A total of 86 participants from more than 15 countries (including Greenland) attended the webinar.

Webinar Recording<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>

Presentations:

* TB in women, infants, children and adolescents - key data, gaps and opportunities<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Steve Graham, University of Melbourne and The International Union Against TB and Lung Disease
* Addressing TB along the lifecycle - lessons from Uganda<http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Moorine Sekadde, National TB Programme, Uganda
* Kenya's experience providing Isoniazid Preventive Therapy in PMTCT settings <http://childrenandaids.org/node/428>
Immaculate Kathure, National TB Programme, Kenya
Additional Resources:
The 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health will be held this week from 11-14 October in Guadalajara, Mexico. For more information, please visit the website<https://www.theunion.org/>.

More Information:
For technical questions, please contact Anne Detjen at adetjen@unicef.org<mailto:adetjen@unicef.org> or Surbhi Modi at bkt1@cdc.gov<mailto:bkt1@cdc.gov>

If you are interested in collaborating with us on a webinar, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org<mailto:jerodrigues@unicef.org>.

Tuberculosis along the lifecycle:
opportunities for integration of TB, HIV and
maternal health programmes
Webinar
October 5th, 2017

Join Us for a webinar on Thursday, October 5th, 2017 at 8.30am-9.30am EST on Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB/HIV and maternal health programmes organized by UNICEF and CDC in collaboration with the Child Survival Working Group.

The webinar will be moderated by Anne Detjen, UNICEF, Surbhi Modi, CDC and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF.

For any questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org<mailto:jerodrigues@unicef.org>.

NOTE: Please download and test the software prior to the webinar for optimal connectivity. It is also advisable to use headphones for good audio quality and to consult your IT focal point for support.

PEPFAR Releases Epidemic Control Strategy

At the 72nd United National General Assembly, the U.S. government released the new strategy President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR): Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020)<https://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/274400.pdf>. An excerpt from the strategy including the key actions is highlighted below:

"This Epidemic Control Strategy focuses and aligns U.S. government resources and activities toward achieving epidemic control and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic by emphasizing the following action steps.

* Acceleration of optimized HIV testing and treatment strategies particularly to reach men under age 35. This is important as we know that more than half of men under age 35 do not know their status and are not on treatment, which is fueling the epidemic in young women 15-24 years of age and young men 25-35 years of age.
* Expansion of HIV prevention, particularly for young women under age 25 and men under age 30 through the scale-up of innovative and successful DREAMS efforts (supporting girls to become Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe women) and the expansion of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for boys and young men in targeted age bands.
* Continuous use of granular epidemiologic and cost data to improve partner performance and increase program impact and effectiveness.
* Renewed engagement with faith-based organizations and the private sector to accelerate and improve efforts toward epidemic control.
* Strengthened policy and financial contributions by partner governments in the HIV/AIDS response."
For more information, please read the press release<https://www.pepfar.gov/press/releases/2017/274155.htm> and media note<https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/09/274242.htm>.

Job Opportunity

WHO P-3 Technical Officer position in the HIV Department based in Geneva<https://tl-int.vcdp.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=1702975&tz=GMT%2B02%3A00%20(> (closing date is 10 October 2017).

Tuberculosis along the lifecycle:
opportunities for integration of TB, HIV and
maternal health programmes
Webinar
October 5th, 2017

Join Us for a webinar on Thursday, October 5th, 2017 at 8.30am-9.30am EST on Tuberculosis along the lifecycle: opportunities for integration of TB/HIV and maternal health programmes organized by UNICEF and CDC in collaboration with the Child Survival Working Group.

The webinar will be moderated by Anne Detjen, UNICEF, Surbhi Modi, CDC and Jessica Rodrigues, UNICEF.

For any questions, please contact Jessica Rodrigues at jerodrigues@unicef.org.

NOTE: Please download and test the software prior to the webinar for optimal connectivity. It is also advisable to use headphones for good audio quality and to consult your IT focal point for support.

PEPFAR Releases Epidemic Control Strategy

At the 72nd United National General Assembly, the U.S. government released the new strategy President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR): Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020)<https://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/274400.pdf>. An excerpt from the strategy including the key actions is highlighted below:

"This Epidemic Control Strategy focuses and aligns U.S. government resources and activities toward achieving epidemic control and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic by emphasizing the following action steps.

* Acceleration of optimized HIV testing and treatment strategies particularly to reach men under age 35. This is important as we know that more than half of men under age 35 do not know their status and are not on treatment, which is fueling the epidemic in young women 15-24 years of age and young men 25-35 years of age.
* Expansion of HIV prevention, particularly for young women under age 25 and men under age 30 through the scale-up of innovative and successful DREAMS efforts (supporting girls to become Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe women) and the expansion of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for boys and young men in targeted age bands.
* Continuous use of granular epidemiologic and cost data to improve partner performance and increase program impact and effectiveness.
* Renewed engagement with faith-based organizations and the private sector to accelerate and improve efforts toward epidemic control.
* Strengthened policy and financial contributions by partner governments in the HIV/AIDS response."
For more information, please read the press release<https://www.pepfar.gov/press/releases/2017/274155.htm> and media note<https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/09/274242.htm>.

Job Opportunity

WHO P-3 Technical Officer position in the HIV Department based in Geneva<https://tl-int.vcdp.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=1702975&tz=GMT%2B02%3A00%20(> (closing date is 10 October 2017).